Seems to me like Gaza is to be used as a twofer, perhaps three-er Four-fer diversion.
An diversion given Isreali domestic politics, perhaps incursion into Syria or Lebanon too… as all out ,last ditch cruise missilery goes forth from Bush to “Git Osama” don’cha know – in the unthinkable prospect that even Laura might eventually have to reconsider him… …as a FAILURE.

Peshawar
is no doubt going to be further pounded with ordinance now..
with Bush on his last desperate “Hunt”.
Not that Ob won’t do the same after him, but it is a Vanity thing..

Much of our drone efforts so far, as most prelminary missiling is, …
are mere probes to determine ground positions as they regroup, air defenses…you know- the kinds of thing you always see at wedding parties , village squares, community wells, schools…

What a malicious way to fictitiously “Lead the Free World’…
::as murderous Wedding Crashers..

Dunno i fya’ll already discussed this, but this might be the most patently absurd piece of tripe I’ve ever read…

Bay – vey sorry to hear about Freddie Hubbard. I think one of my favorite Jazz albums of all time was one of the live sets he played in Herbie’s Quintet back in 1978. Beautiful tone – he was phenomenal in the 26 minute version of Maiden Voyage.

Alrighty Then! We will just build new roads (don’t miss the pic)… because we will be there a long long time

WASHINGTON — The United States and NATO are planning to open and expand supply lines through Central Asia to deliver fuel, food and other goods to a military mission in Afghanistan that is expected to grow by tens of thousands of troops in the months ahead, according to American and alliance diplomats and military officials…snip…

In an effort to combat skewed media reports on the current fighting in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces launched a YouTube channel. The IDF has video of airstrikes on smuggling tunnels and rocket launch sites, the movement of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the deployment of IDF tanks to the Gaza region, and other such videos. Eight videos total have been uploaded over the post 24 hours.

The IDF is targeting the blogosphere and anyone else willing to watch the videos. “The blogosphere and new media are another war zone,” IDF Foreign Press Branch head Major Avital Leibovich told the Jerusalem Post. “We have to be relevant there.”

KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) — A handful of pro-Palestinian activists protested outside President-elect Barack Obama’s vacation home on Tuesday and urged a new approach to the Middle East.

Eight activists marched with signs to the edge of the property’s security perimeter, telling reporters that they want the incoming administration to take a fresh look at the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories, especially given the current fighting in the Gaza Strip. They also said Obama needs to take a more active role in the conflict, even though he doesn’t take office until Jan. 20….snap….

[A]Zionist Israel is not a viable long-term project and Israeli settlements, land expropriation and separation barriers have long since made a two state solution impossible. There can be only one state in historic Palestine. In coming decades, Israelis will be confronted with two options. Will they peacefully transition towards an equal society, where Palestinians are given the same rights, à la post-apartheid South Africa? Or will they continue to view democracy as a threat? If so, one of the peoples will be forced to leave. Colonialism has only worked when most of the natives have been exterminated. But often, as in occupied Algeria, it is the settlers who flee. Eventually, the Palestinians will not be willing to compromise and seek one state for both people. Does the world want to further radicalise them? …snip…

I think the Palestinians have already turned from a two state…they know their birthrate is a weapon. Eventually.

UPDATE: Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has pre-emptively released a statement saying:

“As I have previously stated publicly, I cannot co-sign a document that certifies any appointment by Rod Blagojevich for the vacant United States Senate seat from Illinois. Although I have respect for former attorney general Roland Burris, because of the current cloud of controversy surrounding the governor, I cannot accept the document.”

From Springfield, Ill., to D.C., Senate Democrat Leaders Harry Reid and Illinois homeboy Dick Durbin saying: “Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.”

— jpt

BTW last I read ol’ Man Titz Harry is at 37% favorability back home in NV…

Mr. Burris made his interest in the Senate seat known on Nov. 5, telling the Associated Press that he had been approved by that a half-dozen black ministers from Chicago.

And this… LOL

Under the federal Constitution, each House of Congress “shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members.”

In practice, though, things have not always been so cut and dried. In 1969, the Supreme Court ruled that the House had acted unconstitutionally two years earlier when it voted to expel Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a Democrat who had been re-elected by his Harlem constituents despite accusations of corruption.

Then there was the case of Representative Louis C. Wyman, a Republican from New Hampshire. In 1974, he appeared to have won election to the Senate by 355 votes out of more than 221,000 cast, but a recount found that his Democratic opponent, John A. Durkin, had won by 10 votes.

Mr. Wyman appealed that decision to the state’s Ballot Law Commission, which awarded Mr. Wyman the victory by two votes. But the Senate declined to seat Mr. Wyman, returning the issue to New Hampshire for a special election in 1975. Mr. Durkin won that race.

Given the complexity of the legal issues involved, it remained unclear Tuesday exactly how the Democratic caucus in the Senate would try to prevent Mr. Burris from being seated.

have been wondering if the Obama estate in Hawaii…has been in his family…or it’s a new estate…if it has been in the family….what was the need for the “guardhouse”……and how exactly grandma came to be all that in the banking…..(vaguely reminded me of how Ayn Rand….from Russia got to be something in the US when woman in the US could never ever dream of being anything but the murdered Marilyn in those years)…..vaguely reminded there of one of the more quiet (neil…niel….kneel) bush dynasty…and the suv that miraculously came out of gear and crushed the nanny near the guardhouse….heresay

Yes Ron – who the fuck are these folks you are forced to swallow your bile and drive that limo so smoothly for………………

“Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat,” he said. “I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it.”

Obama’s statement, and the fact of his election as the first black president, may defuse the core of Blagojevich’s strategy, which is to build support for himself and the appointment by making the conflict about race.

Obama reiterated his call on Blagojevich to resign.

“I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy,” he said.

Pretty funny.. we don’t have this now:

…entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy,”

YOU HEAR HEAR ME HARMON BITCH……may you be WATERBOARDED…while folks calmly congregate quite calmly thank you very much behind ancient mahoghany walls and discuss, replacing deadly mercury filled “light providing” bulbs for ones that never near sucked up as much energy as the vast humanless acres that feed the web you fuckers CREATED that has now turned against you and gone quite amuck……..

I will never forget…in my youth…..when a ….what can you say…but…just nice female human being was canned…for taking care on her job – making critical parts for aircraft…likely young poor southerners and rustbelters would be flying………

mele kalikimaka honey…..I hold you in my heart after all these years when we worked right down the street (in th midst of the east palo ghetto) from Raytheon….the quite proud inventor of the pain ray………..in OH so very liberal, liberal California

……..ah welll Harman,…I believe is the correct media spelling…
See you mother fuckers……really wouldn’t want to be you…..there is kindness and mercy…and it will always be so,…. it is in fact…what you thrive on …isn’t it?…….good luck to you….there is always time to feed someone who has never done you any harm…and doesn’t desire to usurp you…they just wish to live…… like you………………..they don’t need guardouses in Paraguay….I wanna say: you sick fucks….and likely , I’ll pay for it……..

That “special relationship” line from Camp Obama is nothing new re our scene but it is sickening nonetheless . He uses it a lot. It’s already disgusting to hear such an AIPAC approved line in ‘normal’ times, but it is particularly offensive as uttered by Axelrod this Sunday, mouthpiece for Obama, as the bombs from our “special relationship” are raining down on a captive populace (fish in a barrel).

Oooh, short straw! So sorry, but you just arent special to us.

Ugh.

There was actually a very good interview by Charlie Gibson during Obama’s ME jaunt, which pushed Obama against the wall on “special relationship” and various I/P issues. I had the incredibly bad luck to launch a DK diary critical of his ME policy, which highlighted that interview, at the very same time that the Edward’s affair went media/blog ballistic. It slipped off the diary list like so many others – not even the Zionista bombardiers showed up to take a whack at it.

I loved the Goodman show yesterday. A great line up of guests, making stellar points. Ali Abunimah was on fire, and is so spot on when it comes to xy and z, on Abbas, too. He struck me as working in concert with Amerisrael to derail the Hamas electoral outcome from Day 1. Division of the people to regain power for team Fatah, which must prevail. The price – forfeit the opportunity to stand strong in unity, for the people. Sad. Appears a very hollow gutless man to me.

Oh, and re the report that Ehud Barack was quoting the “I’d defend my girls too!” Obamaline, if you listen to the first few minutes of Washington Journal, today, the host speaks to an Israeli journalist who reports that “everyone” in Israel is using that line.

Rameau is an activist who has been executing a bailout plan of his own around Miami’s empty streets: He is helping homeless people illegally move into foreclosed homes.

“We’re matching homeless people with peopleless homes,” he said with a grin.

Rameau and a group of like-minded advocates formed Take Back the Land, which also helps the new “tenants” with secondhand furniture, cleaning supplies and yard upkeep. So far, he has moved six families into foreclosed homes and has nine on a waiting list.

“I think everyone deserves a home,” said Rameau, who said he takes no money from his work with the homeless. “Homeless people across the country are squatting in empty homes. The question is: Is this going to be done out of desperation or with direction?”

Rameau, who makes his living as a computer consultant, said he is doing the owners a favor, saving the properties from drug dealers, vandals and thieves.

He said he is not scared of getting arrested.

“There’s a real need here, and there’s a disconnect between the need and the law,” he said. “Being arrested is just one of the potential factors in doing this.”

Miami spokeswoman Kelly Penton said city officials did not know Rameau was moving homeless into empty buildings – but they are also not stopping him.

“There are no actions on the city’s part to stop this,” she said in an e-mail. “It is important to note that if people trespass into private property, it is up to the property owner to take action to remove those individuals.”

Ho ho ho, my child was escorted off the Long Island Railroad today for riding without an adult. The police were called. He’s 10.

He – Izzy — has ridden this route solo a dozen times before. It’s a straight shot on a commuter train and, as always, he was being met at the other end by his friend’s family. But today’s conductor was appalled to see a boy riding alone.

For some reason, the conductor wouldn’t talk to me, even though Izzy called from the train when the ordeal began. The man had no interest in hearing me state what Izzy had already been telling him: We believe a child of 10 is perfectly capable of taking a half hour journey by himself.

So instead the conductor and his superior got off at Izzy’s stop and then, as the train just sat there (I’m sure no one was a rush to get to their families on Christmas day), they awaited the police. I got a call from the friend’s dad who was waiting to take Izzy home. “We cannot leave the station,” he said.

“Why not?”

“The police have to decide what to do next.”

A few minutes later a policeman got on the phone and asked what had happened. I explained that my son often takes this train and that, in fact, the first time he did, we had asked at the railroad information booth, “What age is a child allowed to ride alone?”

There’s no specific age, the agent replied. But personally, she thought 10 sounded good, if there was someone waiting at the other end.

The police officer listened and agreed this sounded reasonable. He said as much to the conductor and the boss and they got back on the train. My son was free to go. The policeman wished me, “Merry Christmas.”

Peter Kraus worked hard in the three months he spent at Merrill Lynch this fall — and the $25 million in bonus cash he earned for his troubles was just enough to allow him to afford to buy Carl and Barbaralee Spielvogel’s apartment at 720 Park for $36.63 million, twice what they paid for it two years ago. And it is worth it. According to Brown Harris Stevens:

The baronial living room has 11′ ceilings with exquisite crown molding, a wood burning fireplace and intricate parquetry floors. The formal dining room is grand for entertaining but cozy enough for family suppers with its wood burning fireplace. The beautiful in-laid floors are repeated here and the dental crown molding, plaster relief encircling the chandelier and rich Venetian plaster walls make for a stunning room. The library off the living room is paneled in rich mahogany and has a third wood burning fireplace.

Death and sorrow continue to pour down in torrents over Gaza. And every death is delivered with the backing of the full faith and credit of the United States. American money, American weaponry — and unstinting, unquestioning American diplomatic support — are underwriting the brutal carnage. There is scarcely a single voice along the commanding heights of American power to raise the slightest protest against a savage war crime being committed in broad daylight, day after day, with the approval and connivance of the “civilized” world. The hard, enclosed, impenetrable shell of American “bipartisanship” has achieved a steely perfection on the issue of Palestine; it is itself a missile — a weapon of mass destruction — falling on the people of Gaza.

Everyone knows that the United States government is the only force that could rein in the virulent militarism of the Israeli state, which is now reaching literally genocidal proportions. But there is no faction in American politics that has the courage, the will — or the desire — to offer even the most tepid criticisms of Israeli policy. At one time, the old-style “country club” Republicans — like Bush the Elder and his gilded gofer, James Baker — sometimes served as a counterbalance. This was not due to any far-sighted statesmanship or moral acumen on their part, of course; it was down to their deep-dyed anti-Semitism, bred into them for generations (Bush I’s father, Prescott, was of course a business partner of the Nazis — even after America and Germany were at war), and also to American Jews’ historic affinity for the Democratic Party. As James Baker once famously said, when the first Bush Administration was having some PR problems after threatening to withhold some aid to Israel for continuing to steal Palestinian land: “Fuck the Jews; they didn’t vote for us anyway.”

But of course, the Republican Party soon threw in its lot with the knuckle-dragging Nationalist Christians who, despite a raging anti-Semitism of their own, championed Israel because of its perceived role in their lurid apocalyptic fantasies. The Israeli militarists seized on this fresh source of political influence in Washington — despite their awareness that their new American allies (including George W. Bush) fervently believed every Jew would burn eternally in hellfire, and that Israel had no meaning for them except as a counter in their ignorant eschatological games. Thus the literally vicious circle was closed. All of the powerful factions at the imperial Potomac court were now united in knee-jerk support of the worst Israeli depredations.

There have of course been very forthright, principled objections to Israeli policy voiced in American society for many years — most prominently by leftist and liberal Jews — but these voices have no power, no influence. The only group in American power politics who could conceivably make an effective stand against Israel’s policies without facing charges of anti-Semitism are the prominent Jewish Democrats.

I’m not yet convinced CKS is out though it certainly looks headed that way given the narrative cement shoes she’s wearing now…

I read somebody remark recently that it’s like her Grandfather said of her fathers campaigns, saying something to the effect of He was “willing to pay for a win but not a landslide ….”

Some of this I see as the usual shuck and jive in an auction game
These people are liquid in money and bullshit wiith plenty to spread around…Seems like it could be done if they flip the narrative onto Politics as Usual, go with her awkward thing, then package it – I know- reach for the barf bags – then package it in the same old Dream to Believe Hope Yada Yah whilespreading more money than God all around and ,of course, practicing the Ancient Art of Politics as Usual..

There’s this myth that the Kennedys are relative Pikers when it comes to money, only 4 and 500 Million dollar trusts here and there, SOOO Above Board just charming tales of Grandpap’s boootleging and Pump and Dump Stock swindles past…any taint of public money corruption going back to the 1920’s was merely traded in for personal character failings…

No, the myth goes — No Billion Dollar Markers in a BLOCK the Kennedys could call in from Switzerland the Caymans or where have you… Which of course is just as ludicrous as truth like the politically placed windfalls GrandPap made off of BOTH sides of Prohibition, Both sides of unregulated and then rgualted Chairmanship of the SEC and Both sides as lender then reciever in Bank Failures in the 1930’s… Can Anybody really be that Naive NOW to believe the Kennedys or any other Dynastic SomeOnes are in Politics out of a sense of Service?

So from a raw question of: Do they have the juice to get it done?
I’d say they do…What the motivation is behind it all I don’t know.
Her appearance certainly seems like the whim of a poor little rich girl facing empty nest syndrome…

But for all I know it was just as much motivated by ramming Andrew Cuomo in the ass as anything else…

During those endless, pointless driveway debates in which outwardly intelligent people said the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon was acceptable because the Israelis gave the Lebanese time to clear out before the bombs started raining down, I received an object lesson in the fact that it is more possible to have a rational talk about Israel with Israelis than it is with American Jews. There are Israelis who are appalled by the generations-long misery of Gaza and the West Bank, by the farcical situation with the settlements, with the double-dealing and the bad faith, but their American counterparts are shouted down by political hysterics who see every situation involving Israel as a replay of Exodus, with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint holding back the slobbering Arab hordes.

The atrocity being committed right now in Gaza has no basis in morality, practicality or even long-term Israeli self-interest. It is a naked exercise in force wielded by a nuclear-armed regional superpower in the name of fighting an enemy it created decades ago in order to undermine the power of other Palestinian groups. I would like to see the propaganda nonsense about targeting only Hamas operations, with any civilians casualties a matter of regret, get the contemptuous treatment it deserves, but that’s as pointless as hoping for a reduction, much less an end, to the American subsidies lavished on the biggest economy in the eastern Mediterranean. This is shooting fish in a barrel, and it ends whatever claim Israel may have to the moral high ground.

52 – absolutely disgusting… and yet another reminder that though I still have the idea of kids in the back of my mind, maybe I shouldn’t have them, as I would raise them ‘free range’ too… just like I was. And as our national paranoia over child safety builds, I have no doubt any hypothetical children would be taken from me.

So to recap all of this change you can believe in: A Kennedy and Cuomo are competing to succeed a Clinton in New York; the skids are greased for a Biden to replace a Biden in Delaware; one Salazar might replace another in Colorado; and a Governor charged with political corruption in Illinois wants one of his cronies to succeed the President-elect. Let’s just say we’re looking forward to 2009.

Oh, maybe he can’t say anything about the I/P situation because there are secret negotiations going on…

Oh, Obama can’t do anything differently when he’s president because everything’s already been tried (shrug)…

Oh, Obama needs to play more golf because he’s going to get really busy in 3 weeks…

I’ll tell you what: cut off Israel’s aid with a whip of that presidential pen and you’ll see just how fast their government starts paying attention. That would be “change” I could believe in (as far as that issue goes).

but their American counterparts are shouted down by political hysterics who see every situation involving Israel as a replay of Exodus, with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint holding back the slobbering Arab hordes.

… think I referred to Exodus the other day as exultant fiction, but a fiction.

And I see Bobby Rush was on Larry King tonite going on and on about the lack of AAs in the senate again. (transcript)

Now to Chicago and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Bobby Rush.

Bobby stood up today — you all saw him — to appoint — to support that appointment.

Any second thoughts?

REP. BOBBY RUSH (D), ILLINOIS: Not a one, Larry. As a matter of fact, I’m more determined. I feel like I’m on much more solid ground than even I was this afternoon.

Roland Burris is a person who has an impeccable career. He’s got an impeccable character. He’s an outstanding public servant. I tell you, he is held in high esteem throughout the State of Illinois, and, indeed, throughout the nation.

I have no (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: Congresswoman Schakowsky, how do you feel…

RUSH: (INAUDIBLE) is worthy of being the senator.

KING: Hold it.

Hold it, Bobby.

Congresswoman Schakowsky, how do you feel?

REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D), ILLINOIS: Well, this is not about Roland Burris. This is about Governor Rod Blagojevich, who, let’s remember, was accused of trying to sell the Senate seat; who is undergoing, right now, impeachment hearings in the Illinois legislature; who has been charged by the U.S. Attorney; and who the United States Senate — all the Democrats said should not make the appointment. In fact, they said it was unfair to the people of Illinois, unfair to Roland Burris and that it would not stand — that basically that they will not seat his pick.

RUSH: January, on the contrary…

KING: All right…

RUSH: This is, indeed, about the fact that the U.S. Senate does not have one African-American in it. The last 150 years, there have been only been three African-Americans. And the people of the State of Illinois should be applauded because they have sent two of the last three. But for the last 150 years, there has not been an African- American in the Senate.

There is a higher principal, there’s a higher — there should be a higher sense of moral outrage for the fact that here in America, we have no African-Americans who are presently in the United States Senate. We’ve got three Hispanics. We’ve got two Asians. And we have 11 women. And we have just untold number of others.

But I’m telling you, the fact that we have no African-Americans should be — should make most fair-minded Americans very, very angry and…

KING: OK…

RUSH: …although…

KING: Hold it.

Hold it, Bobby.

RUSH: Although…

KING: Hold it.

Even as he accepted Blagojevich’s appointment today, Roland Burris tried to separate himself from the legal problems.

So.

At Thursday's debate, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren defended their Medicare for All plan. They faced criticism from several rivals, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, who described it as a "bad idea," and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who claimed the bill shows Sanders and Warren do not "trust the American people."

At the third presidential primary debate in Houston, Texas, senator and 2020 candidate Elizabeth Warren called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Warren also spoke about her stance on U.S. trade policy and how "our trade policy in America has been broken for decades."

After being questioned about the crisis in Venezuela, Senator Bernie Sanders defended his vision of democratic socialism. "I agree with what goes on in Canada and in Scandinavia: guaranteeing healthcare to all people as a human right. I believe that the United States should not be the only major country on Earth not to provide paid family and medical le […]

Debate moderator Jorge Ramos of Univision grilled former Vice President Joe Biden over the Obama administration's deportation record. Biden refused to answer whether he did anything to prevent Obama from deporting a record 3 million people.

A U.S. House of Representatives panel on Friday demanded internal emails, detailed financial information and other company records from top executives of Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc, Apple Inc, and Alphabet Inc's Google, widening the antitrust probe of Big Tech.

U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Friday asked a government watchdog to look into the Trump administration's decision to launch an antitrust probe into four automakers cooperating with California on tighter greenhouse gas emissions limits that Trump is trying to eliminate.

A lawyer for former FBI official Andrew McCabe pressed U.S. prosecutors on Friday to drop their politically sensitive case against him, citing reports that suggest they may be having trouble securing criminal charges.

Media

from Howl

I'm with you in Rockland
where we wake up electrified out of the coma
by our own souls' airplanes roaring over the
roof they've come to drop angelic bombs the
hospital illuminates itself imaginary walls collapse
O skinny legions run outside O starry
spangled shock of mercy the eternal war is
here O victory forget your underwear we're free
I'm with you in Rockland
in my dreams you walk dripping from a sea-
journey on the highway across America in tears
to the door of my cottage in the Western night

October 7 1955

"a remarkable collection of angelson one stage reading their poetry"
"I think Allen Ginsberg standing up there reading - putting himself on the line - was one of the two bravest things I've ever seen. Remember, it was '55. People had crew cuts, and they looked at you like you were misplaced cannon fodder. The country was being run by Luce publications. It was a dangerous, cold, ugly time, and it was scary. . .
In all our memories no one had been so outspoken in poetry before. We had gone beyond a point of no return. None of us wanted to go back to the grey, chill, militaristic silence, to the intellectual void - to the land without poetry - to the spiritual drabness. We wanted to make it new and we wanted to invent it and the process of it as we went into it. We wanted voice and we wanted vision."
-Michael McClure

Democrats…

Same as goddam fucking forever.
Over and over, in election year after election year, GE and MidTerms both… the Dems start to purr and preen, they stretch luxuriously - at just being TOLD they are going to win [...]
It never fails.
... in February of 2002, looking over the already joyless congressional stragglers willing to be drafted for duty… they barely dreamed, yet, it was even possible (Howard, a different person then, had not arrived to say it could be done)… but one thing was clear, we could not rely on the party to swing it. Could not. You could smell it, they would screw the deal. And I am not talking about Howard and primary issues here. By the end, that was a passing political story. Chuck it on the heap.
[...]
Upshot? The Republicans make it thru. They hold on.